Rivalry: Andy Murray and Milos Raonic

Here’s something that tennis enthusiasts will eat up: the official blog of the ATP has launched a series detailing some of the fiercest on-court rivalries this year. First up: Andy Murray and Milos Raonic.

At first glance, Murray vs. Raonic may not seem like much of a rivalry at all. They met six times throughout the year, with the Scot besting the Canadian in each outing. However, during each of their encounters Raonic showed flashes of brilliance, making none of Murray’s victories come easy. During the 2016 Australian Open, Raonic won the first two sets and had the current Number One on the ropes, before Murray rallied to advance to finals. The two athletes also met at the quarterfinals of the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters and the finals of of both the Aegon Championships and Wimbledon. Raonic lost in each bout, and his the Wimbledon match resulted in his first runner-up finish. The two last met this month for the ATP World Tour Finals, with Murray winning in dramatic fashion.

Raonic is four years younger than Murray, and could very well gain the experience necessary to beat him in the coming years. Their budding rivalry also demonstrates that all wins aren’t landslides, and that a thorn in the side can stick around for ages.